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Florissant Formation
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====Invertebrates==== The invertebrate fossils of the Florissant are [[arthropod]]s, such as spiders, [[millipede]]s, insects, and [[ostracod]]s; and [[mollusk]]s such as clams and snails. Of these, the most significant seem to be the spiders and insects, of which over 1,500 species have been identified in the fossil beds.<ref name="book"/> [[File:Palaeovespa florissantia.jpg|thumb|''[[Palaeovespa florissantia]]'', a fossil [[wasp]], forms the logo for Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument]] [[Arachnid]]s are well represented in the Florissant, mostly a large variety of spiders. There have also been possible examples of [[harvestmen]] and [[Pholcidae|daddy long-legs]]. There may be some evidence for [[gall mite]]s, but no fully identified body fossils of them have been discovered yet. One unusual aspect of the spiders found in the formation is that they are not found with their legs curled in, but instead they are fully extended. This could indicate that they died in warmer temperature or acidic waters.<ref name="Thoene, 2012">Thoene, J., Dena, M., Cesar, R., & Herbert, W. (2012). Depositional setting and fossil insect preservation; a study of the late eocene florissant formation, colorado. Palaios, 27(7), 481-488.</ref> The insects that are found in the ash-clay beds are diverse and numerous. [[Mayflies]], [[dragonflies]], [[damselflies]], [[grasshopper]]s, [[crickets]], [[katydid]]s, [[cockroach]]es, [[termite]]s, [[earwig]]s, [[web-spinner]]s, [[cicada]]s, [[snake flies]], [[lacewing]]s, [[beetle]]s, [[diptera|flies]], [[mosquito]]es, [[butterflies]], [[moth]]s, [[wasp]]s, [[bee]]s, [[ant]]s, and other insects have all been found in the Florissant.<ref>Moe, A. P., & Smith, D. M. (2005). Using pre-Quaternary [[diptera]] as indicators of paleoclimate. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 221(3-4), 203-214.</ref> Of these, the beetles are the most diverse and dominate in number of specimens found as fossils. About 38% of the specimens found in the fossil beds are varieties of beetle. These fossils are aquatic and terrestrial insects, giving insight into the ecology and biology of the area.<ref name="book"/> Ostracods are believed to have fed on algae on the bottom of the lake. Most of the fossil examples of ostracod come from the preserved carapaces, or feeding appendages. Only one species of ostracods has been described so far. Several freshwater mollusks have been identified, including freshwater and terrestrial. The most abundant mollusk that has been identified at Florissant is [[gastropod]]s (snails).<ref name="book"/>
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